Title: Torrent

Author: Befanini
Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/~befanini

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no rights whatsoever. For daydreaming purposes only. XD

Warning: "Moderately" mature content. You'll see…

Summary: Requiem for a fellow Heretic.

A/N: Kanzeon Bosatsu be praised! Have only just gotten acquainted with the Saiyuki boys this summer. Found myself wondering what kind of sick person goes about fantasizing about fictional, animated characters. Then I found you lot! Thank the gods I'm not alone…XD (Tell you what, I choose to believe that Sanzo (growl) and Gojyo (drool), as well as Hakkai and Goku and all the rest, do exist in an alternate dimension somewhere…)

This is my first Saiyuki fic. My first anime fic, in fact. As well as my first foray into M/M pairing! (Wipes sweat from forehead...) Reviews would be much appreciated!

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Crap. He flipped over onto his back and flung a strong brown arm over his forehead. You'd think he would be exhausted, after today. You'd think his beat-up body would surely succumb to the bliss of a well-earned few hours' oblivion. But no… and the more he tried to get to sleep, the wider-awake he became.

He fumbled over for his discarded vest to check his watch – two goddamn thirty in the morning. Dammit, he was bone-tired and soul-weary, so why couldn't he sleep? His muttering and restlessness caused the nearest person beside him to growl as his sleep was disturbed. Alabaster skin gleamed in the moonlight as a blonde head turned the other way, cursing softly in the dark.

He winced as he waited for the click of the gun, but it never came; as the ivory shoulders resumed the steady, rhythmic breathing of one asleep. He released the breath he'd been holding and ruefully ran long fingers through his crimson hair. Carefully – carefully – he extracted a crushed pack of smokes, plus his battered lighter, and replaced his vest to the side, and eased up from his cot. They'd all had to share one room again tonight, worse luck, and this time the monkey had won the bed, lucky little shit… Maybe that's why he was having trouble getting to sleep, what with being black and blue all over and having to sleep on the floor, while Goku was sleeping all sprawled over the nice comfy bed, from what he could make of the sheets. He looked at the bed longingly, a nasty plan starting to brew in his mind, before reluctantly giving up the idea. Hell, let the saru snore. He deserved it, after what he'd been through today.

Turning away, he gingerly stepped over a sleeping form, with Hakuryu curled up at the side of her master. "Hmm? … Gojyo, what's wrong? Where are you going?" Hakkai whispered sleepily.

"Can't sleep. Going out for a smoke."

"Demo, are you sure –" Gojyo placed a firm hand on Hakkai's shoulder and urged him back down, as Hakkai struggled to prop himself up. "Go back to sleep you worrywart. Won't be gone long, I promise."

"'Kay…" Hakkai sighed, falling back into an exhausted sleep. Gojyo looked down at his friend for a long moment. Poor guy was almost drained, no surprise considering all he'd done today – first taking on that whole army alone, and then that immense battle of will afterwards… Gojyo reached down and pulled the blanket up to Hakkai's chin, glanced over to make sure pretty boy ice maiden was also sleeping soundly, and made his way soundlessly out the door and down the stairs to the inn's veranda.

---

Downstairs, he stopped short to see a small figure hunched over in the corner, white t-shirt just visible in the shadows, and the gleam of the golden diadem catching the moonlight as the head and shoulders shook.

He approached slowly. "Oi, bakazaru, are you sneaking a smoke in the dead of night? A certain purple-eyed monster won't like that, you know…" He aimed for a lighthearted tone, unsure of how to proceed. When no retort came back, he dropped down to his haunches beside Goku, who was sitting with knees drawn up, arms wrapped around his legs and his face buried in his arms. Gojyo laid a tentative hand on the monkey's shoulder, sure now of his suspicions. Poor kid was crying.

"Oi, Goku…" he said softly, all teasing gone from his lazy, seductive voice. "What's wrong, saru?" he asked gently. When the shoulder didn't shrug off his hand, his grip grew firmer, more authoritative. He turned Goku to face him, fully prepared for a kick in the face or a punch to send him flying. But Goku surprised him by lifting his tear-streaked face and burying it against Gojyo's chest, his small wiry arms reaching out to engulf Gojyo as if he were Goku's last lifeline.

Cheeks pink, Gojyo held Goku gently and stroked his head, and he felt his bare chest grow wet with Goku's silent tears. Bewildered and embarrassed, he waited for the storm to pass. It didn't take long. After a while Goku pushed him away and turned aside to wipe his face unabashedly with his t-shirt. Done, he scooted over and sat with his back against the wall, legs stretched out, beside Gojyo.

Gojyo copied his form and they sat in silence for a while, broken only by the occasional shuddering sighs typical of one who's had a good long cry. Gojyo lit up a cigarette, the flame of his lighter briefly illuminating a deep sorrow in Goku's golden eyes. He took a deep drag, exhaled, and squinted through the smoke at the kid beside him.

"Wanna tell Gojyo about it, saru?" Goku bowed his head. Gojyo shrugged and turned to look off in the distance.

"Gojyo…" Goku began hesitatingly, and stopped. He frowned and looked away. Gojyo understood. This was something new and awkward for them both, to talk like this, apart from petty arguments over food, or the heat, or cold, or whatever. Their confidantes were normally the other two upstairs, respectively. But perhaps this was something that the monkey couldn't discuss with his shining idol. Gojyo narrowed his eyes, considering, and then made his decision.

"Listen, I'll probably get a bullet in the head for this, but… wanna try?" He offered Goku the glowing cigarette. Goku's eyes widened, then set in firm resolve. He took the burning stick between thumb and forefinger and lifted it to his lips.

"Gaaaakkkkk!…." Goku erupted into a coughing fit after the first puff, and Gojyo had to whack him on the back, glancing fearfully up the window to their room, sure he'd seen a glimpse of golden hair. Well fuck you, Sanzo, the kid needs it right now, he glared.

The fit subsided, and they resumed sitting in silence, while Gojyo lit another cigarette for himself. He observed as the monkey took a few more tentative puffs, wrinkling his nose slightly and trying to hide a disgusted expression. Gojyo hid a smile, then leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

"Gojyo…" Goku said again.

"Hmm?" he peered at Goku with one eye.

"Why did Homura have to die?"

Ah, so that was it. Gojyo glanced up once more, but whatever he thought he'd seen earlier was gone now. The window was empty.

"I wouldn't have… wouldn't have fought him if I had known I was gonna kill him… I wouldn't have…" Goku choked and swallowed as the tears brimmed in his large, innocent eyes once more.

"I knew he was our enemy, that he wanted the sutra, that what he wanted to do was wrong… Dammit, he hurt Sanzo! He slashed Sanzo down the chest… And even when we were in that other place, that new world he had created, when he couldn't defeat me, he went after Sanzo again! … But… but… I didn't want him to die, Gojyo… Nande? … Nande, Gojyo? Why did Homura have to die? Why do I feel this way?"

Golden eyes pleaded with him as the tears poured down over boyish cheeks. And he knew he had only one answer to give.

Taking the forgotten cigarette out of Goku's fingers, he flicked it carelessly away to the darkness and took a deep drag from his own, before it followed suit. He exhaled deeply and stood up, hooking his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and walking out a little way to lean on one of the veranda posts. Crimson eyes glittered in the moonlight as he answered Goku the only way he knew how – brutally, honestly, sincerely.

"I don't know, saru. Sometimes that's just the way things are. As to why Homura died, you know the answer as much as I do. He had human blood in him. He said so himself. His time was up, and he chose you to deliver him. That's all there is to it. But he died happy, just as Sanzo told you. "Be honored, Son Goku," Homura said. You should be."

"But…" Goku protested, frustrated at his own conflicting emotions. "Why do I feel not honor, but horror? Why? He was our enemy, wasn't he? Why do I feel so… so broken, so… empty… when I think that I won't ever have the chance to fight him again someday? Why am I sad, Gojyo? Why do these tears fall for him?"

"Goku…" Gojyo walked softly back to where Goku had slumped against the wall. He lifted the boy to his feet and placed both hands on his shoulders, stooping to look at the monkey squarely in the eye.

"You cry because you loved him."

"What are you talking about, you asshole!" Goku thrashed and kicked at Gojyo in defiance, in denial, but Gojyo held firm, despite the monkey's undeniable strength, willing Goku to face up to the truth.

"It's true. And it's okay. Sometimes we meet people like that… sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we know he is our sworn enemy, that it's him or us, kill or be killed, but we love that person just the same… Because he shows us how strong we really are, he challenges us to dare greater things, he awakens us to infinite possibilities… he – he gives us second chances… And we love that person with a ferocity equal only to the hate we must feel, we should feel, because we stand on opposite sides…. And when the fight has been decided, when the dust has settled, whatever the outcome, honor and horror both mean nothing and everything at the same time, because it all comes down in the end to that thing which you deny – love. … And it's nothing to be ashamed of, saru. We just have to be a man about it and accept it."

Gojyo's voice cracked, as unfathomable sorrow flooded his scarlet eyes, and suddenly Goku's own eyes widened in comprehension, in understanding … and finally with pity and sympathy.

"Okay, saru? You got that?" Gojyo squeezed Goku's shoulders hard, then released him and whirled around swiftly to resume his position by the porch column. Shadows flickered on the hard planes of his face as he lit another smoke.

Goku walked up to him slowly and stood at his back for a long time. Finally, boyish arms hugged him from behind and he felt Goku press his forehead against his back. "Thank you Gojyo…" the boy whispered hoarsely. Gojyo reached back to muss the kid's hair. "That's okay," he answered gruffly. "Now go on back up and stop wasting that soft, comfortable bed, or a bad-tempered monk will kill me."

He stayed down at the veranda for some time more, sprawled on the deck, enjoying the dark and the cool air and the moonlight, as thoughts of Jien filled his mind's eye.

After a while he became aware of someone behind him, and he sighed without turning around. "Okay, okay, Hakkai, I'm going back to bed." He crushed out his last cigarette and made to get up.

Lean arms the color of alabaster encircled his shoulders from behind, hard as marble and strong as steel, crossing at his chest. He felt the warm touch of a strong torso press against his bare back. Heart hammering wildly, he turned his head in surprise and confusion.

"Sanz--uhmmmm…." he groaned, as hard silky lips captured his mouth in a long, open-mouthed kiss that drew deep moans from his throat. His eyes closed as he felt the other's hard, moist tongue sluice through his own wide-open mouth, and he found his hands reaching up to thread his fingers through silky blonde hair … Gojyo's heart slammed in his chest as Sanzo flooded his senses, all lean muscle, fine skin, silken hair, and tongue and lips, hard and wet and so possessively burning hot, flooding his veins with molten fire.

Gojyo swallowed hard in silent protest as the golden head drew back and deep purple eyes gazed hotly into his own. "Thank you, kappa…" that deep, dangerous voice drawled, before a hard, warning note came into it. "…but if you ever give him a smoke again, I'll kill you."

And Sanzo turned around and disappeared as noiselessly as he'd come.

Gojyo stood up, stretched lustily, and groaned. Now he knew for sure he'd never get a wink tonight, not with that delectable golden-haired bastard an arm's length away… He ran his tongue over his lips, relishing the faint taste of Sanzo that still lingered there… Who knew? Maybe, just maybe, Gojyo's secret infatuation wasn't so one-sided after all… Ah hell. He turned around and sauntered up to their room, a devilish grin on his face…

-owari-

---

OUTTAKES! (Whee! …)

SCENE 1:

Gojyo steps gingerly over a sleeping form, stumbles, curses … and his eyes widen in horror as he feels something go splat under his foot. Forcing himself to look, he bends over and squints in the dark, then drops his head in sadness … before he beats his head with his fists, wondering where their transportation is going to come from now…

"Hmm? … What's wrong, Gojyo? Where are you going?" Hakkai whispers sleepily.

"To answer your question, a) Everything; and b) Nowhere. " Gojyo answers miserably. He glances fearfully at the sleeping priest. "Um, Hakkai, will you be so kind as to blast me with a huge chi ball now, and save me the agony of a bullet in my brains later?"

"?"

SCENE 2

Gojyo whacks Goku on the back, and glances fearfully up the window to their room, sure he'd seen a glimpse of golden hair. Well fuck you, Sanzo, the kid needs it right now, he glares.

PING!

Gojyo falls to the ground, bullet hole smoking in his forehead.

Upstairs, Sanzo blows on the tip of his gun, and mutters about bad examples, child abuse, and disrespect to his elders, to boot.

SCENE 3

Taking the forgotten cigarette out of Goku's fingers, he flicks it carelessly away to the darkness and takes a deep drag from his own, before it follows suit….

A few hours later…

THWAK

"Baka erogappa! How many times must I remind you to CRUSH OUT your cigarettes before you throw them away! You know how much this is gonna cost me? And what's more you involved a minor in this offense, rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb…"

Sanzo continues his ranting, Hakkai tuts disapprovingly while shaking his head, Gojyo stands with a sheepish grin.

Oblivious, the monkey continues to exclaim. "Wow, it's incredible how quickly the inn burned down, huh? Ne, Hakkai? Holy smokes – "

"Nope, no smokes – 'holy' or otherwise – ever again…" promises Hakkai with a grim smile and a hard glare at both the kappa and the monk.

Both cry out. "Eh?"

SCENE 4

"You cry because you loved him."

"Naw… I love you!"

Goku pounces Gojyo. Gojyo chokes.

"Help… Someone get this monkey off of me! Hakkai! Help! Sanzooooo!"

Upstairs, Sanzo gives a bored yawn. " 'Ch… Serves you right, you pervert…"

SCENE 5

Lean arms the color of alabaster encircles his shoulders from behind, hard as marble and strong as steel, crossing at his chest. He feels the warm touch of a strong torso press against his bare back. Heart hammering wildly, he turns his head in surprise and confusion.

"Sanz---urrkkk!" he yelps. He sees stars. He realizes he's just been suplexed. Hard.

"You fucking bastard. Is that any way to teach a good example? Give the kid a smoke?"

OUTTAKE OUTTAKE:

"You cry because you loved him."

"Naw… I love you!"

Goku pounces Gojyo. Gojyo chokes.

"Help… Someone get this monkey off of me! Hakkai! Help! Sanzooooo!"

BANG!

Goku falls to the ground.

Upstairs Sanzo screams. "He's mine, bakazaru!"

---

Japanese mini-glossary:

Demo: But

Bakazaru: Stupid monkey

Nande: Why

Erogappa: Horny water imp

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